Lock



Dec. 22, 1936.

o; RITTERBUSCH LOCK Filed sept. 24, 1954 3 sheets-sheet 1 CC. 22, Q. RWTERBUSCH LOCK yFiled Sept. 24, 1934 261 ,I2 /50 M mwmm.

s sheets-sheet 2 jjj JOS 108@ Dec. 22,. `f-T RITTEREUSCH LOCK M 5, 676 1%. m 555 @m S@ I .W fw.. e -ud 7 (y 7 7% 5 @fawn/V74 Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNlTED STATE ,PATENT @FFIQE 4 Claims.

The invention relates to locks and is particularly adapted to be embodied in locks of the type shown and described in U. S. Letters Patent 1,907,267 granted to me May 2, 1933.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved lock which, because of its construction, prevents rattling of the door in which it is mounted. In other words, when the door in which the improved lock is mounted is ink its closed position, the lock insures that there will be no movement of the door relative to the door frame until the door is opened manually.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lock of the kind described with an improved night latch mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved lock which may be adjusted so that it may be mounted in any door no matter whether the door is hinged on its left hand side or right hand side and no matter Whether the door opens inwardly or outwardly or whether the lock is to be actuated by a key from the inner or the outer side of the door or from both sides.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved lock of the type described which may be unlocked by a key from at least one side thereof and may be adjusted so that it may be actuated from either side Without the aid of the key.

Other objects or" the invention will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section taken through a lock which embodies the invention, the lock being shown mounted in a door which is hinged in a suitable door frame.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the same line as Fig. 1 but showing parts of the lock in changed positions, the keeper of the lock and the door frame being shown in elevation.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and indicates that the door has been opened a short distance.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the same line as Fig. 1 but showing certain parts in changed positions.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken on line 8-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken substantially on the same line as Fig. 6 but showing certain parts interchanged to adjust the lock.

Referring for the present to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, wherein a preferred embodiment I" the invention is illustrated, the reference character il! designates a door which is mounted in a door frame II by hinges (not shown). 'Ihe door I0 is equipped with the improved lock which is designated generally by the reference character I2.

The lock I2 comprises a keeper I5 which is 10 pivoted by a pin `I t in a fabricated housing member Il, the member I7 being Xed in a recess I8 provided in the door frame II. Aspring I9 mounted in the housing member Il tends to rotate the keeper I in a clockwise direction (Fig.` 15 2) so thatV the keeper i5 will occupy the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 4 when the door I0 is in its open position.

The keeper I5 is pivoted intermediate its ends and comprises arms 22 and 23, the arm 22 being engaged by a bolt or wedge member 25 when the door is in its closed position (Figs. 2 and 8).

The wedge member 25 is disposed in a housing 25 which, in turn, is disposed in a recess 2l formed in the free edge of the door Iii. The housing 2S comprises a striker plate 3G provided with a slot 3l through which the arm 22 may pass to engage the wedge member 25 and a plate 33, the plate 33 being carried by a plunger 34 30 which is slidably journaled in a lug 35 provided in the housing 2t. A spring 38 yieldingly urgesl the plunger 313i and the plate 33 to the left (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). A pin 39 projecting through the right hand end (Fig. 1) of the 35 plunger 34 is engageable with the lug 35 tot limit displacement of the plunger 31% to the left (Fig. 1). The construction is such that when the door is opened, the plate 33 is displaced into the slot 3i by the spring 38 (Figs. 3 and 4.) 40 It will be noted that when the door I() is in its closed position, the arm 22 engaging the plate 33 holds the plunger 34 in itsretracted position against the action of the spring 38. Obviously, the plate 33 will remain in engagement with the 45 arm 22 during the initial opening of the door I0 until theV plate 33 is disposed in the slot `3l (Fig. 4).

The plunger 25 is urged yieldingly in a downward direction by a helical spring fill interposed between the upper edge of the wedge member 25 and the housing 25. The wedge member 25 is slldably journaled in lugs 4I and 42 provided in the housing 26.

A notch 44 formed in the wedge member 25 is 55 engaged by the free end of a lever which is pivoted by a pin 45 in the housing 26. The lever 65 is provided with an integral sweep section 56 which is divided in two parts by a lug 51. One sweep section surface is designated by the reference character 52 and the other by the reference character 53. When the lock is adjusted as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, each of the sweep surfaces 52 and 53 will cooperate with a lever 55 mounted on one end of a plug 56 rotatably journaled in a barrel 51 of a tumbler lock which is designated generally by the reference character 6D (Figs. l and 5). The tumbler lock 60 is actuated by any suitable key and its construction is such that when the door is in its closed position, the lever 55 occupies the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1. However, if certain latch mechanism hereinafter described has been adjusted so that the door can only be opened from the outer side by actuating the tumbler lock 68, its key (not shown) is inserted in the tumbler lock and rotated to rotate the lever 55 in either direction so that the free end of the lever 55 will ride upon theI sweep surface 52 or 53 and displace the lever 45 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1) to lift the wedge member 25 against the action of the spring 40. The key (not shown) is rotated until the lever 55 abuts against the lug 5|, whereupon the wedge member 25 will occupy the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 3.

A link 62 has one end pivoted to the sweep section 511 by a pin 63, the other end of the link being provided with a slot 64 in which a pin 65 rides. The pin 65 projects from the free end of an L-shaped lever or crank 66 which is pivoted on a pin 61 projecting into the housing 26. A pin 69 projecting from the lever 66 intermediate its ends is engageable by cam surfaces 10, 1|, 12 and 13. The cam surfaces 10 and 1| are formed on a lug 15 which is formed integral with a sleeve 16 (Figs. 6 and 7). The cam surfaces 12 and 13 are formed upon a lug 11 which is formed integral with a sleeve 18. Normally, the lugs 15 and 11 are alined with each other as illustrated in Fig. 1 so that the pin 69 rests between the cam surfaces 1l) and 11 and between the cam surfaces 12 and 13. The lever 66 then occupies the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1. However, it will be readily understood that if the sleeve 18 is angularly displaced in a clockwise direction (Fig. 1), the cam surface '12' will displace the pin 69 to the right (Fig. '1) so that the lever 66 will be angularly displaced in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. '1). It is also obvious that the sleeve 18 may be displaced in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. '1) to have the cam surface 13 displace the pin 69 and the lever 66 into the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. 7. Likewise, the sleeve 16 may be rotated in either direction to bring the pin 69 and the lever 66 into the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. '1.

Formed integral with the sleeve 16 are lugs 86 whichprovide a slot 8|, the purpose of which will presently appear.

Extending through polygonal holes 83 and 84 formed in the sleeves 16 and 18, respectively, is a spindle 85 which is of well known construction and preferably comprises spindle elements 86 and 81, the spindle element 81 is square in cross-section to engage slidably the hole 84. The spindle element 86 has an enlarged squared end 88 which slidably engages the hole 84. The spindle element 81 has its inner end 9U reduced in diameter, the reduced end being screw-threaded into a socket 9| formed in the squared end 88 of the spindle element 6E. A door knob 62 is secured in any suitable manner to the outer end of the spindle element 86, a similar door knob (not shown) being secured to the outer end of the spindle element 81.

It will be readily understood that if the knob 92 is turned in either direction, the spindle element 82 will turn to an equal angle and that this movement will cause one of the cam surfaces 16 or 1| to displace the pin 69 and the lever 66 from the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. 1 to the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. '1. It will also be understood that if the knob (not shown) secured to the spindle element 81 is rotated in either direction, the spindle element 81 will cause one oi the cam surfaces 12 or 13 to displace the pin 69 and the lever 66 from the position wherein they arc shown in Fig. l to the position wherein they are shown in Fig. 1. It will be further understood that such rotation of the s indie element 81 does not rotate the spindle element 85 as the screwthreaded end 96 of the spindle element 51 simply revolves and advances or recedes a short distance in the socket 9|.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be noted that the sleeve 16 has one end rotatably journaled in a hole 93 formed in the housing The sleeve 18 has one end journaled in a hole 911 which is also formed in the housing The sleeve 16 has an annular fiange projecting from its inner end, which ange 65 is rotatably journaled in a depression 81 formed in the inner end of the sleeve 18.

1f either of the spindle eiements 86 or G1 is rotated so that the lever 65 is displaced from the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1 to the position wherein it is shown in Fig. "I, the link 62 displaces the lever 15 from the position wherein it is shown in Fig. l to the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 3, although in the case of Fig. 3, the lever has been displaced through operation of the tumbler block 65 instead oi by rotation of either of the spindle elements 86 and 81.

The lock is provided with improved latch mechanism |66 which is sometimes referred to as a night latch. The latching mechanism |06 preferably comprises two plungers |511 and |62 which have their outer ends slidably journaled in the striker plate 38 (Fig. 1). The inner end of the plunger 162 is of reduced diameter as indicated at |113 so that an annular shoulder 1M is provided. The end 183 is slidably journaled in a lug |65 projecting into the housing 26. The shoulder |86 is engageable by a pawl 15S pivoted on a pin |118a projecting into the housing 26. A lever |69 has one of its ends pivoted to the free end of the pawl the other end of the lever |139 being provided with a slot |16 in which a pin |11 rides. The pin |11 projects from a lug 1 12 formed integral with the link 62.

The plunger |62 is provided with a notch |15 providing clearance for the free end of the pawl |63 when the several parts are in the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. 3.

It will be noted that the inner end of thc plunger 16| is bent to provide a tongue 113 which is adapted to enter the slot 8|. The tongue |18 is slidably journaled in lugs 119 projecting inwardly from a wall of the housing 26.

Secured to the plunger |61 is a detent |22 formed` from spring metal. The detent |22 engages a pin |23 projecting from a wall of the housing 26, the construction being such that the detent` |22 lco-operates with the pin |23 and yieldingly holds the plunger in either its retarded position of its extended position.

Disposed intermediate the plungers |0| and |02 and pivoted on a pin |25 projecting into the housing |26 is a lever |21. One end of the lever |21 engages a notch |28 formedv in the plunger |0|. The other end of the lever |21 engages a notch |30 formed in the plunger |02. The arrangement is such that if either of the plungers |0| or |02 is pushed manually into its retracted position, the other plunger moves into its extended position. Thus, when the plunger |02 is pushed from the extended position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1, to the retracted position wherein it is shown in Fig. 3, the lever |21 pushes the plunger |0| from the retracted position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1 to its extended position wherein it is shown in Fig. 3.

A spring lga extends between the pin |25 and the lever |00 and yieldingly urges the lever |09 in a clockwise direction around the pin As stated above, in Figs. 1 and 2, the door I0 is shown in its closed position. It will be noted that the arm 22 extends through the slot 3| and holds the plunger 34 in a retracted position. It will also be noted that a tapered surface 25a at the lower end of the wedge member 25 engages the arm 22 and cooperates with a wall of the housing 25 to clamp the arm 22 rmly between the wedge member 25 and the wall of the housing. As best shown in Fig. 2, the arm 22 also bears against an edge of the opening 3| when the door is in its closed position. The combination of these features insures that the door will not rattle. It may be mentioned, further, that the wedge member 25 will be urged downwardly by the spring 40 to insure that the arm 22 is engaged both by the tapered or cam surface 25a and by the adjacent wall of the housing 25.

The wedge member 25 is provided with a tapered surface 25h diametrically opposite the tapered surface 25a. The purpose of this construction will presently appear.

Now, if it is assumed that the apparatus of the lock is adjusted as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be understood that the door can not be opened .by rotating the knob 92 on the outer side of the door as the tongue ||8 of the plunger |0| projects into the slot BI and prevents the sleeve from rotating. This, of course, prevents rotation of the spindle element 86 and the knob 92. However, one may open the door from the inside by turning the knob (not shown) on the spindle element 81 so that either of the cam surfaces 12 or 15 will displace the pin 59 and the lever 66 from the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1 to the positions wherein they are shown in Fig. '1 whereupon, the link 62 angularly displaces the f lever 45 in a clockwise direction so that the wedge member 25 is lifted out of the path of the arm 22. The door is then pulled and as it opens, the keeper |5 swings from the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 2 to the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted that when the keeper |5 assumes the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 4, the arm 23 projects into the path of the striker plate 30 so that when the door is closed subsequently, the striker plate 30 will engage the arm 23 and displace the keeper I5 in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. ll) so that the arm 22 will pass into the slot 3|. When the arm 22 enters the slot 3|, it pushes the plate 33 and the plunger 34 inwardly against the action of the spring 32. Meanwhile, the wedge member 25 has been .resting on the forward end of the plunger 34 and when the plate 33 passes from beneath the wedge member 25 it drops down until the cam surface 25a holds the arm 22 snugly against the adjacent wall of the housing 26.

Now, if it is assumed that the improved lock is adjusted as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and it is desired to open the door from its outer side, the key (not shown) for the tumbler lock 50 must be employed to actuate the lock 5] in such man ner that the lever 55 engages the sweep portion 50, as described above, and causes the arm 25 to lift the wedge member 25 out of the path of the arm 22. It is possible to do this as the lost Ymotion connection between the link S2 and the lever E5 permits the link 52 to move downwardly without displacing the lever G6.

It will be noted that when the lock is adjusted as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and the door is opened either by utilizing the key (not shown) from the outer side of the door or by turning the knob (not shown) on the inner side of the door, the link 62 moves downwardly so that the pawl |08 is withdrawn from engagement with the shoulder |05. The plunger |02 may then be displaced manually, when the door is open, from the position wherein it is shown in Fig. l to the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 3 so. that the door may be opened from either side by the corresponding door knob. The function of the pawl |08 is to prevent unauthorized pern sons from inserting an instrument between the door and its frame to push the plunger 102 back when it has been left in the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 1 to lock the door from the outer side.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the barrel 51 of the tumbler lock 50 is screw-threaded into a wall of the housing 20 and is held against rotation by a screw |40 which also extends through a wall of the housing 25. This wall is identified by the reference character 25a. Disposed opposite the wall 25a is a wall or cover plate 2517 also forming part of the housing 20. The Wall 25h is provided with a screw-threaded opening le! adapted to receive the tumbler lock 52. The wall 251) is also provided with` a bore 25C which is screw-threaded at its inner end as indicated at 25e. The bore 26o and the screw thread 25e are adapted to receive the screw |40 to secure the tumbler lock 6|) in the screwthreaded opening |ll| if it is so desired. The purpose of this construction will now be explained.

In Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the lock l2 mounted in the door I0 in such manner that the key (not shown) is inserted into the tumbler lock |50 from the outer side of the door. The door swings inwardly. Now, if it is desired to have the door swing in the same direction but to have it controlled by a key from the inside, the tumbler lock 6i) may be placed in the threaded hole Ml and secured by the screw |40 which is then inserted in the bore 25e. The lever 55 will then co-operate with the sweep surconstruction will now be explained.

When the tumbler lock 60 is removed from the Wall 26a and placed inV the screw-threaded opening |4| of the wall 2619, the spindle elements 36 and 81 and the sleeves 16 and 18 must also be reversed as illustrated in Fig. 9. The operation of the lock l2 will then be as described above but the key Will be inserted in the tumbler lock 60 from the inner side of the door. It Will be noted that it is not necessary to reverse or adjust the keeper i5. Of course, either side of the door may be the outer side, the terms outer and inner are simply used to facilitate the description of the operation of the lock. However, when the door swings in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2 and 4) the keeper E5 is also reversed from the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 2. In other Words, the arm 23 will then project in the direction opposite to that in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The arm 22 then co-operates with the bevelled or tapered surface 25h.

If it is desired to have the door l] controlled with a key on each side thereof, the, tumbler lock 68 is left in the position wherein it is shown in Fig. 5 and an additional lock of the same type, or the equivalent, is inserted in the opening M of the housing Wall 26317. The other lock will have a lever (not shown) corresponding to the lever 55 and co-operating with the sweep surfaces 52 and 53. The spindle elements Se and 8l may be made integral or secured to each other rigidly in any suitable manner. The sleeves 'i6 and lil Will also be in one piece or secured to each other rigidly in any suitable manner.

It will be noted from an inspection of Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 8 that the vertical plane passing through the center line of the plunger Si@ passes through the center liA e of the wedge member 25 and the center line of the pin i5 as Well as through the longitudinal axes of the plungers mi and H32. This plane is also the central longitudinal plane of the housing Z and extends centrally through the sweep suriaces and 53. In other Words, the lock is constructed to a large extent symmetrically about the vertical plane which passes through the longitudinal axes of the plunger and the pin lo. This construction is exceedingly important as it permits the lock to be mounted in a door to meet the conditions under which the door is hinged and the direction in which it swings.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it 1s my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in View of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A door lock adapted to engage a keeper movably mounted in a door frame, comprising: a lock housing mounted in a door, a Wedge member movably mounted in the housing and engageable with said keeper to latch the door by a wedging action, a lever for displacing said wedge member, a cylinder lock for actuating said lever independently, a spindle provided with cams, a crank adapted to be operated by said cams, a link operatively connecting said crank and lever, a night latch mechanism adapted to lock said spindle, and means on said link for preventing release of said night latch mechanism when the keeper is engaged by. the Wedge member.

2. A device as speciiied in claim l, in Which the Wedge member is equipped with a spring serving to yieldingly urge the member into engagement With the keeper.

3. A door lock adapted to engage a keeper movably mounted in a door frame comprising: a lock housing mounted in a door, a Wedge member movably mounted in the housing and engageable With said keeper to latch the door by a Wedging action, a lever for displacing said Wedge member, a cylinder lock for actuating said lever independently, a spindle provided with cams, a crank operated by said cams, a link operatively connecting said crank and lever, a night latch mechanism to lock said spindle, and means controlled by said link for preventing release of said night latch mechanism when said keeper is engaged by said Wedge member.

4. A door lock adapted to engage a keeper mounted in a door frame comprising: a lock housing mounted in a door, a bolt member movably mounted in the housing and engageable with said keeper to latch the door, a lever for displacing said bolt member, a cylinder lock for actuating said lever independently, a spindle provided with cams, a crank operated by said cams, a link operatively connecting said crank and said lever, a night latch member to lock said spindle, and means controlled by said link for preventing release of said night latch mechanism when said keeper is engaged by said bolt member.

OSCAR RIT'IERBUSCH. 

